gentian

1 synonym for gentian, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A gentian is a herbaceous plant in the family Gentianaceae, typically growing in cool uplands and bearing deep blue or violet blooms.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

fieldwort

How to use gentian

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

blue gentian alpine gentians gentian root gentian tonic

Gentian is a plain, neutral word used in both gardening and herbal contexts.

Etymology

Gentian passed into English through Middle English from the Latin gentiana. According to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, the plant was named after Gentius, said to be Illyria's final king, who supposedly found the plant's healing properties, though this story is generally regarded as folk etymology. The name may none...

Full origin of gentian →

Frequently asked questions

What is a gentian?

A gentian is a herbaceous plant with violet or blue flowers, found mainly in temperate and mountainous regions.

What is gentian root used for?

Dried gentian root has traditionally been used as a bitter herbal tonic.

Where does the name gentian come from?

It comes from the Latin gentiana, traditionally linked to Gentius, a king of Illyria, although this origin story is now doubted.

Nearby words

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